Inflatable decorative lantern



Jan. 27, 1959 D. w. WHITNEY INFLATABLE DECORATIVE LANTERN Filed NOV. 4, 1955 9N 2 @ff ll7. 8 f Jn,-..

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United States Patent INFLATABLE DECORATIVE LANTERN Donald W. Whitney, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.v

Application November 4, 1955, Serial No. 545,602

6 Claims. (Cl. 240-10) This invention relates to a decorative device and, more particularly, to a decorative device which may be illuminated to form a decorative lantern or lamp.

The general object of the invention is to produce a new and improved decorative device of the character described.

A more specic object of the invention is to produce a translucent inflatable, decorative device adapted to receive a source of light so as to constitute an illuminated lantern or lamp.

Another object of the invention is to produce a decorative device of the character described in the preceding paragraph with means for conveniently inflating and deflating the device.

A further object of this invention is to produce a device of the character described in the preceding paragraphs wherein the globe is inflated through a filler opening in the surface of the center portion of the annular globe.

Yet another object of the invention is to produce a decorative lantern or lamp of the character described in which the chimney is frictionally secured within the open center of the annular globe by means of the pressure of the inflated globe against the chimney.v

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a decorative lantern of the type wherein the globe is inflated by air forced through a filler tube and the air is sealed within the globe by doubling the filler tube upon itself between the chimney and the wall of the globe. A

Still another object of this invention is to produce a device of the character described in the preceding paragraphs whereinthe chimney consists of extensible parts which can be adjusted to vary the length of the chimney to conform to varied sizes of globes.

Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a decorative device embodying the invention; g.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view takenalong line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial top plan view of the device of Fig. 1; 7

Fig. 4 is a partial enlarged sectional view of the device of Fig. 1, showing the position of a filler tube during the inflating operation, the lighter lines representing the position of the filler tube prior to removal of the channel member;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the wedged channel member; and

Fig. 6 'is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along line 6 6 of Fig. 2 and showing a modified form of chimney construction.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detailseveral embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention lee to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

, Referring now to the drawings, the decorative device configuration with an open, generally cylindrical center 13. The chimney 14 is separably mounted within the open center 13 and is open ended to permit ventilation of air therethrough to cool the light bulb 11 whichis mounted in the center of the chimney. The open ends of the chimney are reinforced by caps 15 removably secured thereto frictionally, positively, or otherwise. Openings 16 are provided in the caps to allow ventilation andare preferably designed to give a decorative effect to the ends of the chimney. These caps and the chimney itself are preferably made of a resilient plastic material. Each cap has a depending ring 17 extending into the chimney and abutting the inner wall of the chimney, thereby reinforcing the chimney wall.' The upper ring further serves as a retaining member for mounting the electric light within the chimney. v

An electrical conductor 21 extends from an outside source of electricity into the chimney to supply power to a light socket Ztl in which the light bulb` 11 is'mouuted. The conductor also serves as a means of suspending the lantern downwardly from a suitable hook. This is accomplished by spring arms 18 extending from a ring 19 engaging the exterior surface of the light socket 20. These spring arms press outwardly against the inner chimney wall and have outer ends 22 which lengage the inner surface of the ring 17 of the upper cap 15 thereby retaining the light bulb within the chimney and serving to suspend the lanternA from the electrical conductor 21.

To assemble the light socket within the chimney,A the socket and spring arms attached thereto are inserted in the upper end of the chimney far enough from the end of the chimney so that the ends 22 of the arms 18 are spaced from the end of the chimney at least a distance equal to the width of the ring 17, the ends 22 of the arms engaging the inner wall of the chimney. Thev cap 15 is lthen mounted on the end of the chimney with the conductor 21 extending through the cap. The conductor is then pulled upwardly so that the ends 22 of the arms 1S engage the ring 17.

To assemble the chimney 14 and the globe 12'to form the lantern 10, the deflated annular globe 12 is partially inflated so as to assume a soft doughnut-like configura tion. The chimney is then inserted within the open center of the globe and the globe is yfurther inflated to the desired shape. The open center of the globe is shaped to conform to the outer portion of the chimney and the diameter of the open center of the inflated globe without a chimney mounted therein is slightly less than the outer diameter of the chimney. When the globe having an open center characterized by the above description is fully inflated with the chimney mounted in the open center, the pressure inside of the globe forces the surface of the center of the globe against the chimney to frictionally secure the chimney within the open center. Thus, no additional structure is required to secure the chimney within the globe to form the lantern and the chimney will remain frictionally secured Within theglobe until the globev is deflated. v

The globe is inflated and deflated through a filler opening 23 in the surface of the open center of the lthe lower section -'28.

globe. This opening is at a point which is adjacent the chimney when the lantern is fully inflated. A fill-tube 24 is attached to the globe encompassing the liller openH ing sothat air may be forced through the fill-tube into the grobe.

tAfter 'the globe has been fully inflated, the lill-tube can be doubled upon itself and forced to a position between the chimney and the globe. The doubled lill-tube is thus squeezed upon itself between the chimney and the globe (as shown in Figs. 2 and 3) thereby sealing the air within the globe to maintain the desired pressure within the globe.

`To facilitate the inflating of the globe and to prevent the sealing of the lill-tube prior to the desired inflation lof 'the globe a wedged channel 2S may be inserted between the chimney and the globe so as to Wedge the `llleropening 23 andthe lill-tube 24 away from the chimney. This wedged channel has a base 26 and two parallel wedge-shaped lsides 27 extending from the base.

Thewedged channel 25 is inserted between the chimhey and globe so Vthat the base 26 lies along the chimney wall and the wedge-shaped sides 27 force the globe away from 'the chimney with the widest edge of the sides at the extremity of the globe. The wedged channel is placed so Ythat the ller opening 23 is between the wedgeyshapedsides27 and away from the chimney. The lilltube 24vis extended outwardly past the end of the chimn'ey so that the globe can be easily inflated or deflated, With Athe. wedged channel mounted as described above the air pressure within the globe cannot seal the fill-tube against the chimney before the desired inflation of the globe. To seal the globe after full ination the lill-tube 24 is first doubled upon itself within the wedged channel area. The wedged channel is then removed and Athe air pressure inthe globe squeezes the doubled fill-tube against the chimney thereby sealing the globe.

The complete Vlanternof this invention is easily capable .oflmerchandising and shipping in a minimum of space. The relatively rigid chimney can be utilized as a protecting container into which the deflated globe may `be packaged for storage or shipment. Thus, a deflated lantern vcan be contained in a space which is a fraction of its inflated size.

A v'varied formrof chimney construction utilizing freely slidable extensible parts is shown in Fig. 6. This chimneyvpstructure consists `of a lower chimney section 2S .and an upper chimney section 29 having an inner diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of A desired length of -the lower sectionI can readily be telescoped within the upper section and, when assembled within an inflated globe of annular configuration, will providea chimney having ya desired fixed overall length. Thus, the overall length of the chimney can be varied considerably to conform to a particular globe4 size and one chimney construction can be utilized in the manufacture and merchandising of many different'sized globes reducing the costs of production and inventory.

From'the foregoing it can be seen that the present invention results in a lantern composed of two separable parts, a globe and a chimney, which can be conveniently packaged lby storing the deflated globe within the chimney and can be, simply and quickly assembled by partially inflating the globe, inserting the chimney within the open center of the globe and then fully inating the globe. Further, the inflated globe can be quickly and easilysealed. This is an ideal lantern for decoration `,purposes where it is to be-assembled and used and also where it is desirable to assemble quickly a multitude of rlanterns and after use to store them in a minimum of space. Further, the small number'of parts, the lack of complicated structure and the ease of assembly makes` bulb cooling air; a light bulb carrier positioned within the chimney for supporting a bulb therein; and an annular in atable transulcent globe'memb'er having an inner surface in continuous contact with -thechimney when inated, said contact providing frictional assembly of the globe and chimney for maintaining the same together in operative relationship during use.

2. The lantern of claim l wherein said chimney includes means foradjus'ting-its length.

3. The lantern of claim 1 wherein said chimney comprises two sections telescopically positioned one within the other and adapted to be moved relative to each other for adjusting the length Iofgsaid chimney.

.4. A lantern comprising: jan elongated cylindrical chimney of translucentmaterial open at its ends to provide a passage for lightbulb-cooling air;a light bulb carrier; means on saidlight bulb carrier for positioning said carrier within said chimney for supporting a bulb therein; and an annular translucent inflatable exible globe member having an inner surface in continuous con tact with the chimney when inflated, said contact providing frictional assembly of the globeand chimney for maintaining thesame together in operative relationship during use, said globe having an inating means and means for closing said inflating means. Y

5. A lantern comprising: an elongated cylindrical chimney of-translucent material-open at its ends to pro- Vide Va passage for light bulb cooling air a light bulb carrier; a plurality of outwardly -extending spring arms on said carrier abutting against said chimney to mount said carrier Within said chimneyfor supportinga bulb therein; and an annular translucent inatable'exible .-globe mem` ber having an inner surface in -continuousvcontact with the chimney when inated; said globefhaving a'filling tube located in said inner surface and automatically'held closed by thefrictional Vassembly of said 'chimney and said globe. l Y

6. A lantern comprising: an elongated cylindrical chimney of translucent-material open at its endsftoprovide a passage vforlight bulb cooling air; an electrical light socket and a plurality yof spring farms. secured lto said socket yieldingly urged outwardly against the -wall oflsaid chimney to mount said socket within-said chimney for supporting alight bulb therein, said chimney.-having stop means adjacent its lends for preventing the removal of said socket; and an annular translucent Aair inflated flexible globe member having an inner surface in continuous con tact with the chimney when inflated, said contact providing frictional assemblyof the globe andchimneylfor maintaining the same together'in operative'relationship during use; said globe having an elongated filling tube' located in its inner surface imposition to be pressedagainst the outer surface of said chimney when the globeis inflated, said tube being doubledback upon itself and automatically pinched closed between `Ithe globe and chimney simultaneously as said globe is vinflated and is'r'etained on said chimney by the frictional assembly thereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,229,794 Salzer allune 1-2, 1917 1,776,182 Cook Sept. 1.6, 193() l1,820,681 Schmalbach Aug. 25, 1931 2,324,983 Gollings Iuly 20, 1943 2,660,661 Dupler Nov. '24, 1953 2,748,257 Bennett May 29, 1956 

